Waves Ride Hot Shooting to 77-64 Victory Over San Francisco

Kelsey Patrick ties her career high with 18 points to lead all scorers.

MALIBU, Calif. - On a season-high shooting percentage of 50.9 from the field, the Pepperdine women's basketball team defeated visiting San Francisco 77-64 Thursday evening to complete the season sweep of the Dons. In the all-around team effort, four Waves finished with double-figure scoring, with junior forward Kelsey Patrick leading all scorers with 18 points, which ties her career high. Senior forward Skye Barnett also had an excellent night, notching a season-high 14 points, one shy of her career high.

The Waves (10-8, 5-2 WCC) never trailed in the game, only allowing the Dons (3-17, 1-6 WCC) to tie things up early in the first half before taking the reins again.

For most of the first half, the Waves lead hovered around seven points. Patrick (Mukilteo, Wash./Kamiak HS) sank three-pointers at the 15:17 mark and the 12:10 mark in the first half, the second shot giving the Waves an 18-11 lead.

Senior guard Katie Menton (Coarsegold, Calif./Yosemite HS) also hit two three-pointers in the half with her second giving the Waves a double-digit lead, 36-26 with 1:37 left in the first half.

At the first half, the Waves had shot a season-high 57.7 percent from the field and were 5-of-8 from behind the arc. The Waves forced seven turnovers on four steals in the first half.

At the half, Barnett (Albuquerque, N.M./Cibola HS) and Menton led the squad with eight points, and sophomore forward Robie Mayberry (San Leandro, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd HS) led with five boards.

In the second half, the Dons came out with some fight, sinking their first two baskets to pull within eight, 42-34 at the 18:45 mark. Through the next 2:30, the Dons went on a 5-2 run to pull within five, 44-39. However, that would be the closest they would get, as Menton hit a three-pointer on the next possession to push the lead back to eight.

By the 11:22 mark, the Waves had built their lead to 13, 56-43, off a jumper by Menton. The Dons would answer with a three-pointer to make the differential 10, but the Waves would reel off a 12-4 run through the 6:22 mark to push it to 18, 68-50.

Jamie Katuna would pull the Dons back within 11 as she hit three free throws, but the game would get no closer, as Patrick took the Waves upon her shoulders, scoring the next eight consecutive points to push the lead to 19, 76-57 through the 1:26 mark.

The Dons would finish out with a 7-1 run through the buzzer to put the final score at 77-64.

In the second half the Waves had 18 points in the paint and scored 12 more off turnovers.

The Waves are set to travel to Saint Mary's for their first matchup of the season with the Gaels Saturday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. PT in Moraga, Calif.